[spectre] MA/PgDip in Creative Technology at Salford

[Andreas Broeckmann]

Creative Technology - MA/PgDip
The School of Art & Design, The University of Salford, Greater 
Manchester, United Kingdom

Duration: 1 year full-time; 2 years part-time
Course Web Site: 
<http://creativetechnology.salford.ac.uk/>http://creativetechnology.salford.ac.uk/
School Web Site: 
<http://www.artdes.salford.ac.uk/>http://www.artdes.salford.ac.uk/

For information about application procedures and entrance 
requirements please contact:
Art and Design Postgraduate Admissions: masters-artdes@salford.ac.uk
Tel: 0161 295 6148

For further course information and details please contact:
Mathias Fuchs, Programme Leader: m.fuchs@salford.ac.uk
Tel: 0161 295 6157
Paul Sermon, Reader in Creative Technology: p.sermon@salford.ac.uk
Tel: 0161 295 6149


OVERVIEW
The MA/PgDip Creative Technology is a practice-based course focusing 
on the creative uses of technology. The course's innovative feature 
is the exploration of the dissolving boundaries between industry, 
design, visual arts, and computer and communication technology as a 
result of digital technology. The course brings together a broad 
range of graduates from a variety of different backgrounds.

The course's philosophy is expressed through the following features:

Understanding the various approaches, methods, and issues related to 
digital technology and industrial and creative practice;
Gaining specific skills in a number of areas including creative 
thinking, research methods, computer systems, visualisation, 
multimedia, interactivity, and telematics;
Developing the ability to think dynamically and creatively;
Gaining the expertise to focus on a specific avenue of interest, 
carry out enquiries and experiment, and produce pioneering projects 
or realise innovative working prototypes and solutions.


STRUCTURE
Semester 1 encourages students to interrogate technology and its 
effects through theoretical and practical means and explore notions 
of creativity and practice. Realisation is carried out through a 
series of short projects. Emphasis is placed on developing the 
ability to manage, develop and present ideas, the ability to 
integrate research findings and issues within a practice-based 
project, and the ability to analyse projects and project outcomes.

Semester 2 focuses on developing the ability to propose, manage and 
develop a project grounded in thorough research techniques, which 
embed theoretical enquiry within a practical outcome. The emphasis is 
placed on students managing and coordinating their own learning, 
whilst encouraging the exploration of technology at first hand by 
developing appropriate skills. Students are also encouraged to make 
contact with practitioners and/or industry to gain support and 
experience of professional practice.

Semester 3 is purely self-directed. Each student undertakes a 
practical project, which requires project initiation and 
self-management of their studio, workshop and research time. Students 
interact with each other at regular work-in-progress reviews, and are 
also supported by a regular series of personal tutorials with their 
project supervisor and module coordinator.


FEATURES
This programme brings together a wide and varied intake of graduates 
from differing creative and technological backgrounds. Its diverse 
features keep students informed about recent developments, events, 
festivals, conferences and symposia in the field of creative 
technology.

Guest artists and researchers demonstrate their projects and 
investigations, and students receive an insight into state-of-the-art 
techniques, artistic strategies and creative methodologies. The 
guests on one hand demonstrate their work and on the other hand 
discuss the students' work in progress.

A website presents ongoing events, discussions and theoretical 
considerations to a wider public. Additionally, selected printed 
media distributes information about the course and its participants 
to relevant festival sites, partner universities and project 
supporters.

Students undertake a range of visits to production facilities, art 
shows, exhibitions, trade shows, consultancies and artists' studios 
in the U.K. Europe, and the USA..

Special projects allow students to participate in high-profile 
international art events and get in touch with international artists 
and critics. In particular, telematic events, web-based work and 
projects in collaboration with partner universities prepare students 
for personal exchange and knowledge dissemination.

The course is affiliated to the 
<http://www.isr.salford.ac.uk//artdesign.htm>Creative Technology 
Research Group headed by Paul Sermon, Reader in Creative Technology 
at the University of Salford. The research group is involved in a 
wide array of art, design and technology research, including a 
virtual university project in collaboration with English, French, 
Canadian, Austrian and U.S. universities. Prototyping events for 
remote teaching and joint artistic practice are conducted through the 
framework of the course. Some of the main features of the MA in 
Creative Technology programme have many parallels and crossovers, in 
terms of both teaching staff and research, with the BSc in Computer 
and Video Games course.


APPLICANT PROFILE
This programme has always attracted graduates from a diversity of 
backgrounds including visual arts, design, computing, engineering, 
marketing, music, multimedia, sociology, media studies and many more. 
Students are challenged to work on technically complex and 
artistically demanding projects which are aimed at developing new 
approaches to non-standard problems. A high degree of cooperation 
amongst students on the one hand and between course members and 
external specialists on the other is required.


GRADUATE DESTINATIONS
Maria Stukoff: 2001: Artist, Freelance New Media Curator and 
Consultant: <http://www.viper.ch/>VIPER Festival, Switzerland
Greg Lock: 1998: Research Artist: University of Salford, 
<http://www.nicve.salford.ac.uk/>Centre for Virtual Environments
Paul McIntosh: 1998: Web Manager at <http://www.candomultimedia.com/>Cando
Steve Symons: 1998: Programme Leader, MA Multimedia Arts, Liverpool 
John Moores University